Foreign visitors to Poland down by over a quarter in first nine months

According to data from the Polish Border Guard, 48.4 million foreigners visi ted Poland during the first three quarters of this year, 25.3% fewer than in the same period of last year. Of the total, 94.2% of foreign visitors came f rom neighboring countries. Germany led the way, accounting for 52.5% of all foreign visitors. According to Wieslaw Lagodzinski, a director of the Centra l Statistical Office (GUS), foot-and-mouth disease, reduced price difference s between Poland and its neighbors, and stricter border control are key fact ors accounting for the drop. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 5) P.W.